Stephen’s grip fell away from Kate’s arms, and he took a hesitant step backward. Kate’s heart wrenched, and she almost screamed at the distance he placed between them. She’d imagined his reaction a hundred times over, but the reality hurt far worse.
Brows furrowed, he averted his gaze, studying the tile floor beneath her feet. In an almost absent manner, he rubbed the nape of his neck. Just when Kate couldn’t stand his reticence any longer, he dropped his arm against his bare thigh and lifted his gaze to hers.
A scowl darkened his face. Anger flashed in his blue eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me before?”
Kate cringed at the harshness in his tone. Somewhere, deep inside, a tiny part of her heart, one that secretly harbored the illusion she and Stephen had a future together, shattered into pieces. This was why she’d chosen to never speak of her affliction. Not to mention why she’d kept her feelings for him to herself.
She cleared her throat in order to speak around the lump there. “I have to get out of here.”
His head jerked back. “What? Why? We need to talk.”
“What’s the use?” Turning away from his reproachful stare, she braced her palms against the sink once more. She glanced in the mirror, noting her swollen lips, tousled hair, and the fresh bite on her shoulder. Her cheeks burned with the memory of what they’d done in his bed only a few minutes before. She pushed away from the counter. “I’m leaving.”
He grabbed her upper arm and stepped close. The heat of his body chased away the chill in her bones. For one moment, she closed her eyes, wishing he would wrap his arms around her and tell her everything would be alright. But that wasn’t going to happen now that he knew the truth about her.
“I can’t believe you, Kate. You should’ve told me something as important as this.”
“Why the hell would I? I knew you’d see me differently if I did.” She gathered her nerve and spun to face him. “And you do. I can see it in your face.”
His eyes narrowed. “You’ve got to be kidding me, right?”
“You’ve just proven exactly what you think of me. You backed away from me real damn quick.” She cursed the crack in her voice. “It was my mistake sleeping with you, but you fucked up by marking me. Well, you’ve finally gotten what you wanted from me. You’re stuck with a defective shifter as a mate. When the pack finds out….” Kate rubbed at the dull ache in her temple. “I tried to spare you this, but you couldn’t leave it alone. You wouldn’t leave me alone. Well, I hope you’re happy.”
His features transformed into a stony mask of indifference in the blink of an eye. “You done? Can I speak now?”
Kate didn’t bother giving him a chance. To be honest, she didn’t think she could bear to hear what he might say. Instead, she jerked her arm free and stormed into the bedroom, grabbing her clothes from the chair in the corner where she’d laid them.
Across the room, where he stood in the doorway, she felt his gaze track her every move. God, she had to get out of there. Hurrying, she dressed in record time and bolted toward the bedroom door.
“Kate.”
She ignored his gruff voice and rushed into the hallway and down the stairs. Fumbling with the front door locks, she panicked when it wouldn’t easily open. She just wanted to get away before he came after her. At the moment, there was no way she could talk to him without breaking down. When the stubborn lock slid free, she sighed in relief and yanked the door open, rushing outside.
Kate hurried along one of the foot trails leading to her house, her tears blurring the scenery. It was foolish to think she could spend one blissful night in his arms without consequences. Now she was marked and had no damn clue what to do about Stephen.
***
Stephen tried to sort through the entire scene that had just played out in his bathroom. Despite the jumble of his emotions, two things were evident: Kate’s reluctance to mate made far more sense, and she’d run from him again while he just stood there in the buff, like a fool.
After all their years of friendship, and by God, love, why hadn’t she trusted him enough to speak of what troubled her for so long?
If she had let him speak and not jumped to conclusions, he could’ve eased her fears with a simple explanation. Once they’d completed their mate bond, the situation would more than likely remedy itself. No doubt the gene was there inside her, just dormant. Much like his aunt’s Wolf had been before she’d mated.
Even if she never shifted a day in her life, he couldn’t care less. It didn’t change the fact he loved her, would do any damn thing in his power for her. He’d stand by her side, and they’d weather any storm together. Something she obviously had trouble comprehending. Damn stubborn woman.
He was going to have to chase after her yet again. By God, when he caught her, he wasn’t letting her go this time.